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Wednesday Writings

Why We Fall: Chronic Illness, Batman, and 2 Corinthians, Part 3

Last week we looked at five more reasons for our falls as believers (and humans) and how God can use our moments of discouragement for our good, others’ good, and ultimately His glory. Today we finish that list with one more purpose to our falls, then we’ll look at some practical tips for getting back […]

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Wednesday Writings

Why We Fall: Chronic Illness, Batman, and 2 Corinthians, Part 2

Last week I shared the story of a fall I’d recently taken–a fall into discouragement–and the way God’s Word in II Corinthians helped me back onto my feet, parallel to the iconic “Why do we fall?” moment from the movie Batman Begins. We also saw two reasons behind why we as believers (and humans) fall […]

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Wednesday Writings

Why We Fall: Chronic Illness, Batman, and 2 Corinthians, Part 1

The Day I Fell I took a fall the other day. Not the kind of fall that sends you down with a stubbed toe or a stinging knee, but the fall that sends you down with a bruised heart and a throbbing spirit.  After a few weeks of mild improvement with my health, my hopes […]

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Women in the Valley

Women in the Valley: Jasmine’s Story

Thank you, Jasmine, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! I’m an Aussie, and I live around 1.5 hours’ north of Sydney, New South Wales, with my husband of nearly eight years, Dave (he’s a champion!). I’m originally a clinically-trained psychologist, but right now I’m working as an author of Christian fantasy […]

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Wednesday Writings

Lessons from Narnia: A Boy, a Lion, and Chronic Illness

I’m reading through C. S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, and several sections of The Horse and His Boy, the second book, deeply encouraged me. I’d love to share that encouragement with you. Note: these writings are not Scripture. Being a Christian himself, however, Lewis wove many Scriptural themes into the fiction of his books. […]

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Special Occasion Wednesday Writings

The Seasons of Chronic Illness

Nothing better illustrates the nature of life than the seasons of nature: seasons for growth, seasons for harvest, seasons for work, and seasons for rest. To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 In May we announced a season of rest (at least from The Valley) for us as Emily got […]

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Women in the Valley

Women in the Valley: Hannah’s Story

Thank you, Hannah, for sharing your story with us! Tell us about yourself! I grew up in Pennsylvania, but now I live in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I am a medical missionary (nurse) working with Little Fish Ministries which is a children’s home for abandoned and orphaned children.  I love to read, spend time with […]